Toffoli scores twice, Kings match Blues for 2nd-best in West

Updated 11:59 pm, Friday, December 1, 2017

Los Angeles Kings' Tyler Toffoli (73) scores past St. Louis Blues goalie Carter Hutton and Vince Dunn (29) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Dec. 1, 2017, in St. Louis.

Los Angeles Kings' Tyler Toffoli (73) scores past St. Louis Blues goalie Carter Hutton and Vince Dunn (29) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Dec. 1, 2017, in St. Louis.

Photo: Jeff Roberson, AP

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Los Angeles Kings' Trevor Lewis (22) is unable to score past St. Louis Blues goalie Carter Hutton during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Dec. 1, 2017, in St. Louis.

Los Angeles Kings' Trevor Lewis (22) is unable to score past St. Louis Blues goalie Carter Hutton during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Dec. 1, 2017, in St. Louis.

Photo: Jeff Roberson, AP

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St. Louis Blues' Joel Edmundson pauses as fans uses their phones to light up Scottrade Center during a ceremony as part of a league-wide cancer awareness campaign, before an NHL hockey game between the St. Louis Blues and the Los Angeles Kings Friday, Dec. 1, 2017, in St. Louis. The Blues paid tribute to Ari Dougan, an 11-year-old who recently lost her battle against cancer. less

St. Louis Blues' Joel Edmundson pauses as fans uses their phones to light up Scottrade Center during a ceremony as part of a league-wide cancer awareness campaign, before an NHL hockey game between the St. ... more

Photo: Jeff Roberson, AP

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Los Angeles Kings' Tanner Pearson, left, is unable to get his stick on the puck before St. Louis Blues goalie Carter Hutton grabs it during the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Dec. 1, 2017, in St. Louis. less

Los Angeles Kings' Tanner Pearson, left, is unable to get his stick on the puck before St. Louis Blues goalie Carter Hutton grabs it during the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Dec. 1, 2017, in St. ... more

Photo: Jeff Roberson, AP

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The puck flies past the face of Los Angeles Kings goalie Darcy Kuemper during the second period of the team's NHL hockey game against the St. Louis Blues on Friday, Dec. 1, 2017, in St. Louis.

The puck flies past the face of Los Angeles Kings goalie Darcy Kuemper during the second period of the team's NHL hockey game against the St. Louis Blues on Friday, Dec. 1, 2017, in St. Louis.

Photo: Jeff Roberson, AP

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St. Louis Blues' Kyle Brodziak, right, is unable to get off a shot as Los Angeles Kings goalie Darcy Kuemper defends during the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Dec. 1, 2017, in St. Louis.

St. Louis Blues' Kyle Brodziak, right, is unable to get off a shot as Los Angeles Kings goalie Darcy Kuemper defends during the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Dec. 1, 2017, in St. Louis.

Photo: Jeff Roberson, AP

Toffoli scores twice, Kings match Blues for 2nd-best in West

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ST. LOUIS (AP) — As much as Tyler Toffoli downplayed his recent performance, he's more than happy to be contributing to the streaking Los Angeles Kings.

"Honestly, I just kept my speed good on the first goal," Toffoli said, "And the other one, (Tanner Pearson) made a good play and I was alone in front. So, to be able to get the two goals, it obviously feels good for myself."

Toffoli has three goals in the past two games — one an empty-netter — and three two-goal games this year. He has 13 goals total this season.

Los Angeles won its fourth straight, including three in a row on the road. The Kings tied the Blues for the second-best record in the Western Conference with 35 points, one behind Winnipeg.

"Yeah, obviously it's a cool feeling, but after the start we had we know how quickly things can slip away a little bit," Toffoli said. "We've just got to stay focused and do the little things and just kind of be consistent with our game."

The Kings won 11 of their first 15 games, then lost seven of eight before their current winning streak.

The Blues have lost three of four, getting outscored 7-3. They completed their homestand 2-3.

"I was excited to get the opportunity to play against St. Louis," Kuemper said. "You don't always get those opportunities, so I was excited when I found out about it, and I think our whole team was and really got up for it and wanted to prove something out there.

Adrian Kempe got his ninth goal of the year while the teams were skating 4-on-4 late in the second period to give the Kings a 3-1 lead. He has two goals and an assist in his last three games.

Patrik Berglund scored his first goal since April 6 against Florida. He missed the first 24 games this season while recovering from offseason shoulder surgery. He returned Wednesday night.

"They played a better team game tonight and we just weren't connecting," Berglund said.

The Kings got an early jump on the Blues with two goals in just over six minutes into the opening period. Toffoli opened the scoring less than two minutes into the game and Anze Kopitar scored his 13th less than five minutes later. Kopitar has three goals and four points in his past three games.

NOTES: The Kings are 12-0-2 when scoring three or more goals this season. ... Los Angeles had what would have been its third goal waved off about seven minutes into the second period. Drew Doughty was ruled to have interfered with Hutton, negating Dustin Brown's goal. ...The Blues pulled Hutton prior to the third period. He allowed three goals on 21 shots. Jake Allen, the usual starter, took over. ... The Blues wore light purple warmup sweaters with sparkly lettering in honor of Hockey Fights Cancer night. The lettering was a nod to Arianna Dougan, the 11-year-old girl who Vladimir Tarasenko befriended last season and who spent time with the team on a road trip while fighting cancer. She passed away on Nov. 11. Her family took part in the ceremonial puck drop.